Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
McAfee Family fonds
General material designation
- Textual record
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Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
Level of description
Fonds
Reference code
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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1809-1903 (Creation)
Physical description area
Physical description
6.5 cm of textual material.
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
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Numbering within publisher's series
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Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The McAfee family members were United Empire Loyalists who lived in the Hamilton area (formerly known as Head-of-the-Lake), during the War of 1812. The region at the time was agricultural and consisted of various townships including Ancaster, Barton, Binbrook, Glanford and Saltfleet. Most residents were farmers, innkeepers, or labourers in trades such as pottery. These early colonial townships protected themselves with local militias made up of able-bodied men ages 16 to 60 from the nearby communities, who were required to serve as part-time soldiers if needed. These men would assemble for an annual muster call in preparation for a possible future military campaign. With war looming against the Americans in 1812, brothers Angus (1780-1832), Daniel (1791-1878) and Samuel (1793-1870) McAfee enlisted in the 5th Lincoln Militia. The two flank companies of this regiment were commanded by Captain Samuel Hatt and Captain James Durand, and also included Lieutenant Robert Land, son and namesake of one of Hamilton’s first settlers. The brothers saw action in various skirmishes and fought with Major General Isaac Brock during the Siege of Detroit. All three brothers survived the war and returned home. Daniel and Samuel took over a pottery business, and Angus became an innkeeper in Barton Township.
Custodial history
The material in the fonds was donated to the Hamilton Public Library, Local History & Archives department by the Wentworth Historical Society, predecessor to the Head-of-the-Lake Historical Society, [date unknown]. The material was originally in the possession of Nathaniel Hughson McAfee, a descendant of the family members, who passed the records on to the Wentworth Historical Society.
Scope and content
The material consists of various military records and correspondence pertaining mostly to members of the McAfee family, particularly Angus, Daniel and Samuel. There is also some later correspondence from Nathaniel Hughson McAfee regarding the records of his family members.
Notes area
Physical condition
The documents were previously encapsulated in mylar by former staff for preservation purposes. The documents are fragile, but they can be handled due to the encapsulation.
Immediate source of acquisition
Wentworth Historical Society
Arrangement
The documents were numbered, but this does not affect the current arrangement of the material.
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
No
Restrictions on access
The material is open to researchers. There are no restrictions on access.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Records are in the public domain. There are no restrictions on reproduction for research and private study.
Preferred citation: McAfee Family fonds, 00226, Hamilton Public Library, Hamilton, Ontario.
Finding aids
File list not applicable.
Associated materials
The following related material can be found in the Local History & Archives (LH&A) department at the Hamilton Public Library pertaining to the McAfee Family fonds:
Author Unknown. “Stories of Stoney Creek,” The Battle of Stoney Creek Scrapbook, Vol. 1, p.128. Hamilton Spectator, October 27, 1931. Library Call No. – R971.034 BAT
Author Unknown. “Stories of Stoney Creek,” The Battle of Stoney Creek Scrapbook, Vol. 1, p. 131. Hamilton Spectator, November 2, 1931. Library Call No. – R971.034 BAT
Head-of-the-Lake Historical Society, Wentworth Bygones, Vol.15, pp.60-61, 66,68.
Jones, Frank L. “Area Pioneers in Canada’s First War,” Historical Articles from the Hamilton Spectator, December 4, 1959.
Accruals
Further accruals are not expected.
General note
Title is based on the McAfee family fonds.
Alternative identifier(s)
Standard number area
Standard number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- McAfee Family (Subject)
Genre access points
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Institution identifier
Rules or conventions
Status
Final
Level of detail
Full
Dates of creation, revision and deletion
The fonds was processed in 2023 by Archives Technician Kelly Bucci.
Language of description
Script of description
Sources
Author Unknown. “Stories of Stoney Creek,” The Battle of Stoney Creek Scrapbook, Vol. 1, p.128. Hamilton Spectator, October 27, 1931. Library Call No. – R971.034 BAT
Jones, Frank L. “Area Pioneers in Canada’s First War,” Historical Articles from the Hamilton Spectator, December 4, 1959.
Michael, Rita. "Frederick Ashbaugh of Ancaster: Potter, " In Wentworth Bygones, no.15, published by the Head-of-the-Lake Historical Society, p.60-61, 66, 68. Hamilton, Ontario, 1988.
Blair, Fred, "War of 1812 Canadian Stories," (website), accessed December 7, 2023, https://warof1812cdnstories.blogspot.com/p/5th-lincoln-militia-muster-roll.html.
Letters written by Nathaniel Hughson McAfee, dated February 1903.